Nelson Mandela(From Reader’s Digest, April 2005)

Presented by: Dammar Singh Saudhttps://www.slideshare.net/DammarSaud

Introduction of Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-

apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Wikipedia

Born: July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South AfricaDied: December 5, 2013, 

Houghton Estate, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa

Children: Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, Zindziswa Mandela, More

Spouse: Graça Machel (m. 1998–2013), Winnie Mandela (m. 1958–1996), Evelyn Mase (m. 1944–1958)

Central Idea of the textThis is an interview of the global statesman, Nelson Mandela taken by the reporter of Reader’s Digest. It describes how he became a great man and his perspectives about political system, current issues, role of parents, struggle of underdogs and the terminal diseases.

Short Biography of Nelson MandelaA democratic leader of South Africa and global

statesmanBorn in 1918 A.D. as a member of Thembu TribeMadiba, his clan name and an affectionate

nicknameBlack Englishman, a black South African with the

quality of English (educated in British modelled school)

Became lawyer and joined the African National Congress (ANC) to end the apartheid system of racially based division and discrimination through peaceful means

Got life long imprisonment for his protest in 1962

Short Biography of Nelson Mandela“Free Mandela” became a rallying cry throughout the

world which made him free after 27 years in 1990 A.D.Became the president of South Africa through the

presidential election for five yearsLed the nation to peaceful transition from white

minority rule to multiracial democracyServed the nation through the Mandela/Rhodes

Foundation in his later lifeDied in 2013 A.D.

Major points of the textEducation is the most powerful weapon which you can use to

change the world.Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

It always seems impossible until it's done.The significance of the name Madiba is that it is the sign of

closeness and great affection of the South Africans towards him.

He chose the path of reconciliation because he wanted to create peace and stability for the progress of the society.

Major points of the textIsolation from other people due to the terminal

disease like AIDS kills people far more than the disease itself.

The greatest problem the world is facing now are: poverty and lack of education. So, education should be for all children.

Stories in Reader’s Digest taught him to enjoy life and encouraged him to face the challenges.

His objection of the US and UK’s military intervention in Iraq that the governments of US and UK are taking action in Iraq without the permission of UNO.

Major points of the text

It is the responsibility of parents to give children education and to explain the role they have to play for their society and country.

Religions are good for society but the competition between various religious groups is not good. So, every human being must respect other religion because religions are needed for humanity.

The widely held belief that there is a superior being as god who supervised our affairs is good for humanity.

To remove the weakness of an organization, the organization should concentrate on attaining its goals.

Major points of the textBeing close to HIV patients encourages them to fight the

disease by making them psychologically more confident.Children are very frank and true hearted who can teach

us our mistakes for correcting them.We must strengthen the principle of multilateralism and

the role of UN for better world.A decision that you take depends on the actual

circumstances facing you.He believes on the capacity of human beings –of finding

rational solutions to situation of conflict.

Major points of the textIt is not good for any democracy when its leaders

remain in power so long because if the same leaders remain in power for a long time, they are likely to misuse their power for their own benefits and lose people’s faith upon them.

There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of the society has been enormous.

He would like to be ordinary human being with virtues and vices.

Conclusion

We are the master of our fate. Like Mandela, Every human can contribute for the betterment of the society and the world, if we have positive attitudes and right principles of finding rational solution to situations of crisis and conflict.

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